'Argo' -- and other true stories

Warner Bros.

It's no secret that Hollywood loves a true story -- form biopics to historical dramas, these movies dominate awards and rule the box office. But sometimes a movie's inspiration is stranger than your standard biopic. Take "Argo": Yes, the CIA really did smuggle six U.S. embassy workers out of Iran by disguising them as a Canadian film crew working on a "Star Wars" knock-off. And "Argo" isn't alone. Check out these other surprising films that were inspired by real-life events. Some of them stick closer to the facts than others, but they all have a kernel of truth at their core.

It's no secret that Hollywood loves a true story -- form biopics to historical dramas, these movies dominate awards and rule the box office. But sometimes a movie's inspiration is stranger than your standard biopic. Take "Argo": Yes, the CIA really did smuggle six U.S. embassy workers out of Iran by disguising them as a Canadian film crew working on a "Star Wars" knock-off. And "Argo" isn't alone. Check out these other surprising films that were inspired by real-life events. Some of them stick closer to the facts than others, but they all have a kernel of truth at their core. (Warner Bros.)

It's no secret that Hollywood loves a true story -- form biopics to historical dramas, these movies dominate awards and rule the box office. But sometimes a movie's inspiration is stranger than your standard biopic. Take "Argo": Yes, the CIA really did smuggle six U.S. embassy workers out of Iran by disguising them as a Canadian film crew working on a "Star Wars" knock-off. And "Argo" isn't alone. Check out these other surprising films that were inspired by real-life events. Some of them stick closer to the facts than others, but they all have a kernel of truth at their core.